District



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Apr. 2, 188 9..

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PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

J. OQPOWLER &- E. A. HENKLE.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheet'sShe.et 2.

J. 0. FOWLER 85 E. A. HENKL' PAPER FOLDING 'MAGHINE.

No. 400,762, Patented Apr. 2, 1889.

ETERS. FlIolo-Lllhogmphcr, Walhingim n. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT Trice.

JOSEPH O. FOXVLER AND EDIVARD A. I-IENKLE, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PAPER-FOLDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 400,762, dated April 2, 1889.

Application filed February 2, 1888. Serial No. 262,737. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOSEPH O. FOWLER and EDWARD A. HENKLE, citizens of the United States, residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paper-Folding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to paper-folding machines; and the purpose thereof isto provide a simple and positive mechanism for severing the continuous web at proper intervals and for folding and delivering the several portions in a condition ready for the dealer.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and then specifically pointed out and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is avertioal section transverse to the axis of rotation, showing the essential features of our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. .1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section in the aXial line of one of the shafts shown in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cutting and folding rolls slightly separated and in different positions. Fig. 5 is adetail perspective of the severing-cushion removed from the roll. Fig. 6 is a similar View of the knife or cutting device used in connection with said cushion.

In the said drawings, the reference-nu meral 1 denotes the supporting-frame of the cutting and folding mechanism, and this frame may either form part of the press-frame or it may be located at or near the rearward portion thereof. Upon the frame 1 we mount a guide-roller, 2, j ournaled in depending brackets 3, over which roller the web is laid after passing from the printing mechanism, whereby the sheet has been perfected. Upon the upper surface of the frame 1, in bearings at, are mounted two rolls, 5 and 6, of equal diameter, geared together by gears 7 upon their shafts, whereby said rolls are turned in opposite directionswith their surfaces in contact. Beneath the roll 6 is journaled a roll, 8, having peripheral contact with said roll 6 through an opening in the table of the frame 1. In

the periphery of one of the rolls, as 6, is formed a dovetailed longitudinal slot, in which is inserted a removable bed-piece, 9, having a rubber strip, 10, inserted therein, its surface being slightly projected outward beyond the cylindrical surface of the roll. Projecting through a narrow slot in the contacting-roll 5 is a knife, 12, mounted on a spindle, 13, which lies within the periphery of the roll, and is provided at one end with a collar, 14, and at the other with a cam bracket, 15. Upon one of the bearings 4 is placed a forked lug, 16, in which is journaled a friction-roll, 17, lying in the path of the cam-bracket 15, and upon the roll 5 at the same end is mounted 6 5 a spring, 18, the end of which engages with the cam 15 on the spindle 13. The arrangement of these parts is such that as the rolls revolve in unison the knife-edge will be brought down upon the rubber strip 10, and while in this position the cam-bracket 15 makes engagement with the roll 17 throwing the knife in the direction of its length and at once releasing it again, whereupon it is instantly returned to its normal position by the action of the spring 18.

Upon the shaft of the roll 5 we mount lugs 19, lying at points a little beyond the ends of said roll. Upon these brackets we mount, with pivotal bearings, the grippers 20, having one end, 21, bent to overlie the end of the roll, and the other end, 21, directed inward or toward the axis thereof. Bearing upon the latter portions of said grippers are leaf-springs 22, Fig. 2, whereby the ends 21 are raised oif the periphery of the roll whenever the springs are left free to operate. Surrounding shaft 6 of the said roll are mounted cam-collars 23, against which the ends 21 of the grippers rest. As the rolls revolve upon their shafts the said ends of the grippers are raised and lowered, throwing theextremities 21 down upon the roll and holding them thereon as long as the cams act upon the ends 21. The arrangement is such that this engagement is 5 effected an instant after the grippers pass the contacting point of the two rolls 5 and 6, a recess, 24, being formed in each end of the roll 6 to permit the ends of the grippers to drop into said engagement. The web, after passing over the guide-roller 2, is carried up through the frame 1 and over the roll 5,

roll 6.

thence over a second guide-roller, 2", and down between the rolls 5 and (i. As the latter rotate the web is severed upon the contacting line of the rolls, and the end of the web is instantly caught by the grippers and carried around with the roll 5. The preceding portion of the web having previously passed beneath the roll 6 and between it and the roll 8, the action of the grippers causes the paper to be pulled apart or severed along the line of cut, thereby producing a positive and perfect separation upon said line.

Upon the roll 6, at each end thereof, We mount outwardly-projecting brackets and 26, separated from each other by ninety degrees of are, as shown in Fig. 1, and upon said brackets 25 we pivotally mount grippers 27, having substantially the same construction as the grippers on the roll 5. These grippers 27 are actuated by cams 28. Upon the brackets 26 are, in like manner, mounted grippers 29, having similar construction and operated by cams 30, but timed to act alternately with the grippers 27.

The organization of parts described is such that as the severed portion of the printed sheet passes from between the rolls 5 and 6 the first pair of grippers, 27, seize its edges at the middle portion of the severed part and carry said portion between the rolls (5 and 8, thereby producing a central fold, a. These grippers 27 release their hold as soon as the folded edge of the sheet is carried between the rolls 6 and 8. The second pair, 29, seize the folded sheet at its middle at the instant the two rolls 6 and Shave brought the central line of the folded sheet into position, producing a second fold, b, Fig. 1, which is carried between the roll 6 and a small idler-roll, 3C. This folds the sheet twice, the first fold being in the center of the severed sheet and the second in the center of the folded sheet. It is evident that by duplicating the pairs of grippers and adding to the number of rolls any desired number of folds maybe produced. After the second pair of grippers, 29, release their hold the folded sheet is thrown off the roll by a deflector or shield, 31, removably mounted upon the bearing-brackets of the 111 order to avoid offset upon the folding-rolls, we slightly cut down the surface of the rolls 5 and 6, leaving marginal port-ions 32, upon which the paper rests and against which the grippers descend.

Inasmuch as it may be desirable, in addition to folding the sheet longitudinally, to prepare it to receive the wrapper, we may e1nploy one or more creasing-rolls, 33, running as idlers in connection with the roll 6, said creasing-rollers having one or more creasingcollars, 34, running in a channel, 35, in the roll 6. These channels are deep enough and the pressure of the creaser is of such force as to form a partial fold or folds in the folded sheet at regular intervals, whereby the same may be rapidly and accurately brought into the reduced size required.

It will be evident that after creasing in this manner the creased sheet may be passed between rolls turn ng upon vertical axes, whereby the perfect fold may be formed.

What we claim is- 1. The combination, with apair of rolls having surface contact and provided with cutting mechanism operating upon the tangent line, of grippers pivotally mounted at the ends of one of said rolls, cams rigid on supports which underlie the ends of said grippers, whereby their other extremities are brought down upon the margins of the sheet ust after the cut is made, and a similar pair of grippers upon the other roll which seize' the end of the Web, both pairs of grippers acting after the cut is made, whereby the two parts are positively separated, substantially as described.

2. The combination, withapair of rolls having surface contact and provided with cutting mechanism acting upon the tangent line, of a pair of pivotally-mounted grippers mounted on and rotating with each of said rolls, cams rigidly mounted upon suitable supports and timed to act upon one pair of said grippers to cause them to seize the margins of the web, one pair of grippers seizing the sheet at its center and the other pair just beyond the line of cut, whereby the cut portion is carried in one direction and the end of the web in the other, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with two rolls having surface contact and with a third roll having contact with the second of said rolls, of Websevering mechanism acting upon the line of contact of the two first-named rolls, a pair of grippers pivotally mounted near the ends of the first roll and actuated by cams to engage the margins of the web immediately after it is cut, grippers pivotally mounted near the ends of the second roll and operated by cams to seize the center of the cut sheet, and a third pair of grippers separatedfrom the second pair by a suitable arc and actuated by cams to seize the center of the centrally-folded sheet, substantially as described.

4:. The combination, with a pair of rolls geared to revolve in unison and having their peripheries cut away to leave marginal contacting portions, of severing mechanism acting on the tangent line of said rolls, grippers pivoted on brackets at the ends of the first roll, cams throwing said grippers down upon the margins of said roll, two independent grippers pivoted at each end of the second roll and having independent cams which actuate the same, a third roll having contact with the second roll, and a roll running upon the same above said third roll, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a pair of rolls geared to revolve in unison, of severing mechanism acting upon the line of contact, grippers pivotally mounted near the ends of the first roll and having cams which engage their ends with the edges of the web an instant creasing-roll having one or more creasingoollars running in grooves in the said second r011, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOSEPH O. FOWLER.

after the cut, a second pair of grippers mounted upon the second roll and having cams which engage them with the center of the cut sheet, a third roll beneath the second 5 roll, between which the folded edge is drawn by said grippers, a third pair of grippers pivoted near the ends of the second roll and EDWARD A. HENKLE. actuated by separate cams to seize the center Witnesses: of the folded sheet, a fourth folding-roll run- JAMES A. RUTHERFORD,

1o ning in contact With the second roll, and a PERCY B. HILLS. 

